* Watson, Dr Percival, Spallanzani, and especially the Bishop of Landaff - See "Chemical Essays," vol v

Our books - the books which, for years, had formed no small portion mental existence invalid - were, as supposed, in strict keeping character of phantasm We pored together over such works Ververt et Chartreuse of Gresset ; the Belphegor of Machiavelli ; the Heaven and Hell of Swedenborg ; the Subterranean Voyage of Nicholas Klimm by Holberg ; the Chiromancy of Robert Flud, of Jean D'Indagin, and of De la Chambre ; the Journey Blue Distance of Tieck ; City Sun of Campanella One favorite volume was small octavo edition Directorium Inquisitorium_, Dominican Eymeric de Gironne; and there were passages in Pomponius Mela, old African Satyrs and gipans, over which Usher would sit dreaming for hours His chief delight, however, was found perusal of an exceedingly rare and curious book in quarto Gothic - the manual of forgotten church - the Vigiliae Mortuorum secundum Chorum Ecclesiae Maguntinae

help thinking wild ritual work, and probable influence hypochondriac, when, one evening, having informed me abruptly lady Madeline was no more, he stated his intention of preserving her corpse for fortnight, (previously to its final interment,) in numerous vaults main walls building The worldly reason, however, assigned singular proceeding, was one which feel at liberty to dispute The brother led resolution (so me) by consideration unusual character malady deceased, of certain obtrusive and eager inquiries of her medical men, and remote and exposed situation burial-ground family deny that when I called to mind the sinister countenance person whom I met staircase, day arrival house, I had no desire to oppose what I regarded as at best but harmless, and by no means an unnatural, precaution

request of Usher, I personally aided him arrangements temporary entombment The body having been encoffined, we two alone bore it to its rest The vault we placed it (and which unopened torches, half smothered in its oppressive atmosphere, little opportunity for investigation) was small, damp, and entirely without means of admission for light ; lying, at great depth, immediately beneath that portion building in my own sleeping apartment It used, apparently, in remote feudal times, worst purposes of donjon-keep, and, in later days, as place of deposit for powder, or some other highly combustible substance, as portion floor, whole interior of long archway through which we reached it, were carefully sheathed with copper The door, of massive iron, , also, similarly protected Its immense weight caused an unusually sharp grating sound, as it moved upon its hinges

Having deposited our mournful burden upon tressels within this region of horror, we partially turned aside the yet unscrewed lid coffin, and looked face tenant striking similitude brother and sister now first arrested my attention ; and Usher, divining, perhaps, my thoughts, murmured out some few words I learned deceased and himself twins, sympathies of scarcely intelligible nature had always existed Our glances, however, rested not long dead - for regard her unawed The disease which had thus entombed the lady maturity of youth, had left, as usual in all maladies of strictly cataleptical character, the mockery of faint blush bosom face, suspiciously lingering smile lip so terrible in death We replaced and screwed down the lid, and, having secured the door of iron, made our way, with toil, scarcely less gloomy apartments upper portion house

And now, some days of bitter grief having elapsed, an observable change came over the features mental disorder friend His ordinary manner had vanished His ordinary occupations were neglected or forgotten He roamed from chamber to chamber with hurried, unequal, and objectless step The pallor countenance had assumed, if possible, more ghastly hue - but the luminousness eye had utterly gone out The once occasional huskiness tone was heard no more; and tremulous quaver, of extreme terror, habitually characterized his utterance There were times, indeed, when his unceasingly agitated mind was laboring with some oppressive secret, to divulge which he struggled necessary courage At times, again, obliged to resolve all mere inexplicable vagaries of madness, for I beheld him gazing upon vacancy for long hours, in an attitude profoundest attention, listening to some imaginary sound no wonder that his condition terrified - infected me creeping upon me, by slow yet certain degrees, the wild influences own fantastic yet impressive superstitions

, especially, upon retiring to bed late night seventh or eighth day placing lady Madeline donjon, that I experienced the full power feelings Sleep came not near my couch - while the hours waned and waned away I struggled to reason off the nervousness which had dominion over me I endeavored that much, all of what , was due bewildering influence gloomy furniture room - dark and tattered draperies, which, tortured into motion breath of rising tempest, swayed fitfully to and fro walls, and rustled uneasily decorations bed But my efforts were fruitless An irrepressible tremor gradually pervaded my frame ; and, , there sat upon my very heart an incubus of utterly causeless alarm Shaking this off with gasp and struggle, I uplifted myself pillows, and, peering earnestly intense darkness chamber, harkened - not why, except that an instinctive spirit prompted me - to certain low and indefinite sounds which came, pauses storm, at long intervals, not whence Overpowered by an intense sentiment of horror, unaccountable yet unendurable, I threw on my clothes with haste (for that sleep no more during the night), and endeavored to arouse myself pitiable condition into which I had fallen, by pacing rapidly to and fro apartment

I had taken but few turns manner, when light step on an adjoining staircase arrested my attention I presently recognised it of Usher In an instant afterward he rapped, with gentle touch, at my door, and entered, bearing lamp His countenance was, as usual, cadaverously wan - but, moreover, species of mad hilarity eyes - an evidently restrained hysteria whole demeanor His air appalled me - but anything was preferable solitude which I had endured, and I even welcomed his presence as relief

"And seen it ? " abruptly, after having stared about him for some moments in silence - " then seen it ? - but, stay ! you shall " Thus speaking, and having carefully shaded his lamp, he hurried to casements, and threw it freely open storm

The impetuous fury entering gust nearly lifted us feet , indeed, tempestuous yet sternly beautiful night, and one wildly singular in its terror and its beauty whirlwind had apparently collected its force vicinity ; for there were frequent and violent alterations direction wind ; exceeding density clouds (which hung so low press turrets house) prevent our perceiving the life-like velocity they flew careering from all points against , without passing away distance that even their exceeding density prevent our perceiving this - yet we had no glimpse moon or stars - nor was there any flashing forth lightning But the under surfaces huge masses of agitated vapor, as all terrestrial objects immediately around us, were glowing unnatural light of faintly luminous and distinctly visible gaseous exhalation which hung about and enshrouded the mansion

" not - you behold this ! " said I, shudderingly, to Usher, as I led him, with gentle violence, window to seat "These appearances, which bewilder you, are merely electrical phenomena not uncommon - or it that their ghastly origin rank miasma tarn close this casement ; - the air is chilling and dangerous to your frame one of your favorite romances read, and you shall listen ; - and so pass away this terrible night together "